NFL Planning Japan Game In Near Future

Japan was mentioned in May as a market of NFL interest. Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed in July that a return there is high on the league’s priority list. Japan’s capital could indeed be the host of a regular-season game soon.

“Listen, Tokyo is clearly on our list, whether it’s next year or the year after,” Goodell said in an interview with NFL Daily’s Gregg Rosenthal and Jourdan Rodrigue. “It’s coming at some point in the near future. We’re planning on playing global. That’s where we’re going.”

Between 1976 and 2005, a total of 14 NFL games were played in Japan. 13 of them took place in Tokyo. Each of those were exhibition contests, but the league has prioritized regular-season overseas games for several years. That is set to continue for the foreseeable future, with as many as 11 games played outside the United States possible for 2027.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes it is unlikely a return to Japan will take place next season. He adds 2028 is a more realistic timeline in this case. The announcement for the NFL’s first Australia contest (Week 1 of the current season) was made last February. A similar approach regarding Japan would set up a game there with plenty of time to prepare.